At that time, there was not a portable pacemaker.

CNN: Pacemaker pioneer now lives with device

And these children could not go home with a pacemaker, but Mr. Earl Bakken, who was the president of a small company called Medtronic in Minneapolis, then built a portable, battery powered pacemaker that these children could use.

CNN: Pacemaker pioneer now lives with device

But for those who needed a pacemaker continuously, something portable was needed.

ECONOMIST: Paul Zoll